A prospective customer, Raquel, called with a very unusual request. She wanted a guitar that looked like Geddy Lee’s Bass Guitar ( had no idea who Raquel was talking about) and wanted it on a money clip. Raquel’s friend had been using a paperclip to hold his cash. He’s a big fan of the band Rush. The first step of any project for me is actually making the sale. We have to agree on a price. Figuring out all the materials that will be needed and how long the project will take is essential. A quote with a detailed drawing of my concept is emailed the customer. If he or she wants to move forward, I email an electronic billing. When it’s paid, any materials that are not in stock need to be ordered.
Drawn concept for the Geddy Lee Money Clip project
In this case, I needed to order a manufactured money clip. I sculpted the original guitar out of polymer clay. I keep polymer clay in the studio because detailed designs are easy to sculpt into it and then oven harden, thereby making the model ready to be molded. Some stiff plastic covered beading wire was perfect to be the guitar strings on the tiny sculpture. The guitar had to be sculpted slightly larger than the money clip to allow for the shrinkage that was to occur later in the process.
Polymer Clay Model of the Geddy Lee Bass Guitar
The guitar was placed on the flat bottom of my molding frame and well mixed two part molding compound was pressed down on top. After 30 minutes the poly clay guitar was removed from the mold. I mixed up some silver metal clay and pressed it in to the mold and cut away the excess. After a few minutes I released the wet guitar from the mold and trimmed away and extra clay. Then I made an additional guitar copy. The silver metal clay guitars were left to dry out overnight.
Mold made from the guitar model
In the morning, the guitars were dry. They were fired and cooled and ready to solder to the sterling silver money clip. After soldering one guitar to the money clip and adding a ring to the other it was time for finish work. The money clip was blackened in Liver of Sulfer and then given a brushed finish. The black portions of the guitar were left black and the white parts were polished to create visual appeal. I then engraved the gift recipient’s initials on the rear of the money clip.
Image of the reverse of the money clip with hand engraving
Took photos of both guitars and wrapped up the money clip for delivery.
I arranged to meet Raquel for coffee and deliver the money clip in person. The money clip was presented in a Silversmyth box tied with ribbon. Raquel loved how the bass guitar money clip turned out and was excited to give this special gift.
Geddy Lee Bass Guitar Money Clip in Sterling SIlver
Bass Guitar Necklace in Sterling and Fine Silver
The necklace is available for sale. For questions and custom order requests please email: info@silversmyth.com
Julie
http://silversmyth.com
http://silversmyth.bigcartel.com
Custom Fine Silver Fingerprint Necklace
This is a Thumb print. It’s a simple process to get a print custom made for you.
After I bill you for the charm/pendant and it’s paid; I send you a container with some pink clay and some white clay. Quickly mix them together until the color is uniform. Roll in a ball and then pat it flat. Immediately squash your thumb or finger into it and count to 5 and then carefully remove your thumb. Let the clay sit for 30 minutes. Pack it back up in the box I sent you. Attach the return label enclosed and give to your Mail Carrier. Wait patiently for a few days while I use the mold you made to craft you a perfect replica of your fingerprint. Then I ship you back a lovely fine silver or sterling silver replica of your print. It will have a ring through it so it can be attached to a charm bracelet or necklace unless otherwise arranged. Arrives in a Silversmyth gift box with ribbon.
This is a great gift for sentimental moms, dads and grandparents who would love a keepsake from when their kids were small. It’s one of those cherish forever type gifts. Want to make one of each grandkid for a charm bracelet for grandma? I can combine shipping and reduce pricing for multiple prints shipped together. I’d also be happy do discuss making a piece of jewelry or putting together a necklace.
Email me at info@silversmyth.com for information on Custom Jewelry.
Custom Silver Finger print for Necklace in Silversmyth Box
Patched Heart in Sterling Silver and Precious Metal Clay Necklace
Happy accident?! After I fired the first pmc heart out of the mold it was curved so I hit it with a hammer like I usually do with metal…and broke the broken heart in 2 pieces. So, it needed some repair work. It’s reinforced in the rear with a sterling silver Silversmyth tag soldered across the crack and in the front with a Band-aid. I’m keeping this one. Because I’m wearing it and I love it. Buuutttt…
It you like it then you ought to put a ring on it… I mean if you like it I made a mold of it and I can make more. Cast in sterling or made of thicker PMC.
It’s not available on my website yet, but I do take requests.
email: info@silversmyth.com
This is a custom made sterling silver broken heart commissioned by a long time customer I have never met in person. When she has an idea she emails me and we figure out a way to get it done.
Broken Heart Sterling Silver Lapel Pin
Made from Sterling Silver sheet metal. sawed, soldered and blackened. and then given a rustic brushed finish. I loved how it came out so much that I made a mold of it and can make similar broken hearts in sterling silver metal clay.
Custom made Sterling Silver Broken Heart Pin
Sterling Silver Broken Heart Pin Commissioned/sold.
To commission jewelry email: Info@silversmyth.com
or visit: http://silversmyth.bigcartel.com/ to shop for other items.
Curved Face Broken Heart Lapel Pin Jewelry in Sterling Silver
Infinite Love Necklace in Sterling Silver
Just finished this Infinite Love Necklace in Sterling Silver.
A client asked me to design a sterling silver necklace to resemble an infinity tattoo she’d seen on the internet. I’d seen the photo in a Facebook ad, also.
She imagined it might be part of a ring or a necklace. So yesterday I decided to just wing it and see how it might come out. And here are the results. The rings on each side are soldered in place so the pendant won’t shift around on you, unless perhaps you are doing gymnastics, which is great exercise but wearing jewelry while doing it seems a little over the top.
We discussed doing sturdy ring to look like the tattoo but that might require carving and a big expense. I think perhaps if the size were large enough a ring might be possible hand formed from wire. Anyway, I digress.
This necklace currently can be set for 21″ length or 19″ length. It certainly can be sized down for those with a tiny neck. This is a hand-formed necklace so no copies will be exactly alike.
Of course, I’m always willing to entertain any sorts of customizations to it such as: making it in a heavier gauge metal, sizing the design down while standing on my hands. Really just ask.
Each necklace will include the a sterling silver product tag marked “sterling” and “Silversmyth.”
Please email with any questions: info@silversmyth.com
The one shown was posted today for sale @ http://silversmyth.bigcartel.com/product/infinite-love-necklace-in-sterling-silver
Happy shopping!
Infinite Love Necklace Close-up in Sterling Silver
“Whenever I order something from Julie, whether a piece in her collection or things we’ve custom designed, the outcome is beautiful. I wear the various pieces she’s crafted with pride in knowing the love infused in their creation. Our favorite Silversmyth!” – Ben & Jo Stanley, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sterling Silver Custom Carved Wave Ring
Sterling Silver and Gemstone Ladder Birthstone Necklace
Was recently commissioned to create this custom birthstone necklace for a friend. Materials: Green Tourmaline, Rhodolite Garnet, Tanzanite, and Lab Grown Sapphire and Sterling Silver. She loved it and is very excited to wear it on her vacation!
Sterling Silver and Gemstone Ladder Birthstone Necklace
I can be contacted for custom jewelry requests by emailing info@silversmyth.com
Roly Poly Pill Bug Charm
I got a call from a customer with 3 year old twins. He wanted a Roly Poly (or Pill Bug) Charm for one of his twin girls. Turns out the other twin is into lady bugs and he’s already found her one at James Avery. But I digress… I love an interesting challenge so I got right into drawing and carving this design.
Initial Sketches for the Roly Poly Pill Bug Design
So this is my drawing… first in the large sketch I had to get a feel for how the bug really looks, so I did some research and sketched up my ideas. Then I have to figure out what is possible to carve in the small scale as many details need to be expressed in a very small space such as the overlapping plates of armor, antennae and the tiny feet underneath.
Next I carved a wax. It’s hard to hold a tiny 10-15mm piece of wax so I kept the wax attached to a much larger peice while I did most of the shaping and detail carving.
Hand Carved Wax of the Pill Big Charm
After casting the charm in sterling silver I made a mold of the charm so I can make as many as I get orders for. This sterling silver charm is now available in the at catalog : Silversmyth.com
Interior detail:
3D Roly Poly Pill Bug Charm Underside
Just got this great testimonial via email: “Good evening. I just got the roly poly charm and it is absolutely perfect. Thank you so much. I will definitely be coming to you again and keeping my ears open if i hear anyone else who is looking for a custom piece. I hope you enjoyed working on this as much as I’m sure my daughter will love having it.
Thank you again,
Seth”
I have bunches of colors of nail polish that either got too tacky or the color just wasn’t right. Got the bright (pun intended) idea today to use on a fun project. We had this metal watering can that got dented and faded badly from having been left outside in all kinds of weather. It looked like crap on the front porch of my new home. If it was going to stay out there for everyone to see it was gonna have to be a lot cuter.
Upcycled Watering Can Using Nail Polish
You can add a bit of polish remover to tacky polish to make it flow again. Wash any dirt off your item to be painted, dry and then just paint your heart out. I didn’t think out the designs much just started sticking paint on. However you could use masking tape if your design idea calls for straight lines… or just freestyle like I did.
If you plan to use a paint brush to cover more area, pour out only as much polish onto your palette as you can paint on within a few seconds otherwise it will start to dry on you and you will waste paint. Clean up your brushes promptly with nail polish remover. Always clean the nail polish out your brushes between colors and let adjacent colors dry before adding a new color.
Love how this dainty Sterling Silver brand pendant turned out. This is not a cast piece. Thick wire was bent to form the letters. It’s been soldered in 9 places, hammered and polished to a high gloss finish. Typically I can make brand designs for between $80 and $200 (depending on the time required to complete) and get them completed and shipped off in less than 2 weeks. Please allow extra time before major holidays such as Mother’s Day and Christmas.
Custom Sterling Silver Brand Pendant
Email: Info@silversmyth.com for information on having a custom jewelry piece made for you!
Check out the gallery of completed jewelry at Silversmyth.com
Silversmyth jewelry handcrafted by Julie Hiltbrunner. Unique and custom designs with classic simplicity in sterling silver. Blog details what has been created in the Silversmyth workshop, Fort Worth events and an occassional story on an an interesting artist... Enjoy!